Monday, November 26, 2012

What's goin on ya'll.... So I experienced something the other day, and I wanted to wait a few days to cool off and write about it so as to not be writing in a blind rage.

I was at work and it was clockin out time. So while I waited for my boys to walk out and sat and spoke with one of my superiors. My superior by the way is a young black girl, and she can't possibly be anymore than a year or 2 older than me. I'd even go out on a limb and say I'm older than her. Anyway, she's super cool and I decided to chill by her while I waited.

So jokingly I ask her: " So, how do I get in that front office with you and all the big dogs? How do I move up the corporate ladder?"

Now if you know me, you know I have absolutely NO desire what so ever to move up the corporate ladder. At least not in the traditional sense where I work for some company, make my way up to manager etc. etc. etc.
I truly an sincerely just wanna get my money up, open up my own studio and be the man in the Photography game. I want my success to be MINE. I don't wanna live by the conventional rules etc. etc. Yeah, you all know that.
So when I asked her this question I was literally joking and making conversation. However I'm so glad that I did ask her because what I learned from her response was something I'll keep with me forever.

I can't remember what she said verbatim, but in a nutshell what she told me was I have to stop being a nigga.
She was basically telling me how when I come in, I come in loud, wearing my hat and scarf and "Whaddupin'" everybody.... And how in this business it's important to be a professional in the presence of clients (which we have very often.) She went on to say that our office is thee most diverse throughout the company. We are the office with the most, black and hispanic people. She said that it's "Important for these white people (who don't want to conduct business with minorities) to see that we are just as professional and worthy of working amongst them as they are.

I really couldn't believe what I was hearing. I mean this girl was just sittin next to me a few days prior quoting Juicy J's "Bands ah Make her Dance" talkin bout how she was excited to come with me and the fellas to a strip club? Lol...

It really upset me and not so much cause she was telling me this but because I feel she was confusing me for someone else. I asked her (in an attempt to give her the opportunity to make herself perfectly clear) if she really felt that's how I was.
Lemme tell ya something, Yes, I can be a nigga, yes, I can be a hooligan. I never sag my pants but I do have a very urban demeanor for lack of a better phrase. I'm a sneaker junkie, sometimes weed smoking, Hennesy drinking dude, HOWEVER, when it comes to work I know how to behave myself. I know how to dress, I know how to speak to people and I know the importance of making clients happy. I know these things because this is not my first job, in fact I felt like saying all of that. I felt like telling her: "My last job was in an office much bigger than this one, for a company WAAAAYY bigger than this one. Where I made $6.00 more than what you're paying me here. Our clients were much bigger and professionalism never stopped." But I didn't wanna "take it there." I was in a state of shock.

My peer was telling me that to move up I had to basically become a corporate robot. She then told me that I am very articulate and she knows that I can "do this" and told me that she herself started in my position and moved up from there. You know they always have to say something to try and make you relate to them, but at that point I didn't wanna hear it anymore.
So I came home and posted a FaceBook status stating that I hate the fact that you gotta Chuck and Jive for the white man in Corporate America. But now that you've read this I hope you can see that the white man can be anybody: Black, Asian, Hispanic, whatever.

It bothered me to know that in this game even your peers can be the ones who expect you to chuck and jive. To think I'm supposed to walk in from the cold not wearing my hat and scarf just to make other people comfortable. Never mind the fact that it's colder than God knows what outside.
But what really pissed me off was the fact that I was being told all of this by a person who looks just like me. Damnit man, is this really what you think of me ma? I'm just a random nigga of the street? If it's that real why did you even hire me?

To the best of my knowledge I'd been coming in professionally, clients or no clients around. I come in and say "Hello" to everyone in the front room. I never come in loud like I'm in the hallways of my High School. I'm dress appropriately.

If she thinks I'm coming in like a nigga now she don't want me to come in like what I think a nigga is.

She don't want me to pull into the parking lot blasting ignorant Hip-Hop out the open windows of my PathFinder. And I mean REAL Hip-Hop, not that radio shit, I'm talking Wu-Tang get your bubble goose taken off your back. I'm talkin Snoop when he was still slappin bitches and fuckin hoes. I mean that Clipse/Pusha T heavy crack sellin content. She don't want me to come in with dark shades over my blood shot eyes, smellin like the weed I smoked before my shift. I could come in and give the nigga behind the front desk dap, yellin' "What's good ya!?" But nah.... It's all good tho. I learned my lesson, from now on I'm just gonna walk in, in complete silence and not say shit to nobody and sit at my desk and not say shit to nobody.

I guess this was my first racial/racism encounter and it really rubbed me the wrong way, but I guess a racial moment like this aint supposed to be comfortable for anyone.

I don't even know if this all made sense. But I just had to get it off my chest. So there it is. I walked away with something else to add to the list of life experiences.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

If that title doesn't give it away, this is gonna be a post about sneakers! Lol
So if you're not interested, I'm saving you the time and eye strain and you can feel free to close the site now.

Anyway.

Of course by now, you know, or at least should know, I'm a HUGE SneakerHead. In fact part of the reason I picked up a camera in the first place was the sneaker game. Most of the people in my circle are also SneakerHeads. So I decided to bring a few of em together for a Sneaker Appreciation shoot and called it "Flight School"
I can remember it all started when I was a kid. I would lose my mind whenever my mom told me I was gonna get a new pair, and a new pair was never enough.

Reebok Pumps, Filas, (when they were still poppin) Nike (The reason I'm even in this game) and of course the sneakers made by the man! The man that made us all SneakerHeads. The almighty Air Jordans! Lol, I've told ya the story of when I got the OG VIII's as a kid and how that moment made me the sneaker fanatic I am today.

So seeing as how most of the dudes in my circle are Shoe crazy like me, I wanted to bring em together for an afternoon of chillen, talkin shit, and snappin dope pics of our sneakers. Somethin I wouldn't have been able to do had it not been for Buddy's help. Good lookin cuz.

Just to keep it exclusive I set one simple rule:
Every man brings 2 pairs of kicks. A pair of Jordan's that are older than 5 years old and a Fly/Rare pair of Nikes. And may I say, the fellas did not disappoint.

The sneaker game is so whack now. Kids lining up for a week in advanced for a pair of Jordan's that have been under produced as far as quality is concerned and over priced considering said quality. So I wanted to get behind the wheel of it for a minute and bring the real back if only for one afternoon in the Bronx with my niggas.

So who did I invite out? Only the elite of course!

Tony (@iDefineFreshh)

My cousin Tony has always been one of my favorite SneakerHeads. He's living proof of "The Strong Move in Silence." He's never been the type to promote that he's heavy in the game, but he is and from what I've always seen he's always let his feet do the talkin and walkin for em!

Penny (@P_Hefner)

Meet Penny. He's my brother from another mother. I know it's cliche and I hate using cliches but its true. He's been a part of the crew for at least 10 years and in those 10 years I can't tell you how many dope kicks I've seen him come through in. For the record, he's the only FoamHead that I fully respect, I think he owns all but a handful of pairs ever released.

Pazo (@PazOner)

I met Pazo back in 07. We worked at 3 different jobs together and he's been like a brother to me. Aside from Buddy, he was one dude who I looked up to when it came to the sneaker game. I learned a lot from him both in the sneaker game and otherwise, and as you can see he keeps Heat on his feet! Ayo Paz, if you ain't know, you've made me a Sneaker Snob and that's why I don't respect half the niggas in the game today! Lol. Thanks Bruh.

H (@MasterClassNYC)

What can I possibly say about H that I haven't already said? The man is the embodiment of style and he's always found a way to incorporate a fresh pair of Jordans into any set of threads he chooses to throw on. MasterClass indeed!

Myself (@EnoBull)

Ya know who I am, but this aint about me.

I want my team to shine on this one.

"Flight School" Class of 2012

The young man in the IV's in the cover pic is Trav (@OhSheetItsMe)

He came through with Pazo, and I'm glad he did. I feel the only thing that beats old Jordans is

New ones that haven't even hit the shelf and won't hit the shelf for another month!

Only the Elite.

I had intended to let ya know what sneakers were which.

But then I thought of the audience I'm trying to reach with this project.

And any man or woman who calls themselves a SneakerHead doesn't need to be told what they're lookin at. From left to right you should be able to identify each and every pair worn.

I'll let you know this tho: There's a pair here that's 16 years old. I'll let you figure out for yourself which ones those are tho! Lol

Fellas, I can't thank ya enough for taking the time out to be a part of this project with me. I'm honored to be a member of a circle such as this one.

Mylez' I guess you right, I do enjoy being in the picture just as much as I like taking it. But honestly cuz, you're one of the reasons I stayed a a part of this game after a certain point and you know what this project meant to me, so I appreciate you a 100 times over for gettin behind the camera. I must say, you did a damn good job! Thanks again man.

Who is Eno Bull?

Welcome to my Blog folks. I will be your host Eno Bull. So who is Eno Bull you ask yourself... I am nothing more than a heavily opinionated young man with aspirations of someday owning my own company and being a great photographer. I was born and raised in The Bronx (BX STAND UP!) and writing has always been my escape from reality.
The reason I've created this blog is because (Like I said) I am highly opinionated and love to write but I feel that now-a-days a person whose opinion differs then that of the norm (which mine always do) is all but outcasted. Another reason is because I love to share my thoughts but I know not everyone wants to hear them so I figured why not have a blog so only those who want to know whats on my mind will know. With all that said welcome to Tha Bull Pen.